Our Stories
From Hospitalization to Hope
When I first met Susana, she was facing an overwhelming series of challenges. She is a single mother of three children ages 8, 12, and 15 and had always worked hard to support her family. However, ongoing health complications worsened over time, leaving her unable to...
Delia’s Career of Service
17 years ago, when Delia walked through the doors of Catholic Charities East Bay looking for help from our Immigration Legal Services team, she found more than assistance ─ she found someone who took the time to listen and help her move forward in life. Encouraged by...
A Baby, a Rent Gap, and the Help That Made All the Difference
In February 2026, Grace, her husband, and their 7-month-old baby were on the brink of eviction after falling behind on rent. Grace had been working at a restaurant, but when her employer refused to allow breaks so she could pump breast milk, she was forced to leave...
Henry’s Journey to U.S. Citizenship
Henry came to the United States from El Salvador seeking safety and a chance to rebuild his life. To do that, he contacted Catholic Charities East Bay to apply for his permanent residency (green card) as soon as he was eligible. Looking ahead, Henry set his sights on...
Your Compassion Kept a Family Home
One evening, Abel returned home from work and suddenly collapsed in his kitchen. A stroke left him unconscious, with a fractured facial bone and nerve damage to his eye. In an instant, Abel and his wife, Celia, were facing a medical emergency—while caring for their...
Tis the Season of Joy Bells
Laughter, music, and the spirit of Christmas filled the room on Saturday, December 13, as Catholic Charities East Bay welcomed 60 families and nearly 120 children to our annual Joy Bells celebration. Children’s eyes lit up as they posed for photos with Santa and Mrs....
Ayudar a las personas mayores a seguir viviendo
Thomas is a 75-year-old senior who came to Catholic Charities East Bay seeking help with his back rent. The landlord was unwilling to stop legal proceedings. It became clear that Thomas could no longer afford that apartment, and ultimately, he moved out. As you can...
Desde la primera línea: Cómo ayudar a los alumnos de secundaria
Aswad Aarif, Restorative Practices Manager, shares student breakthroughs In our RESTORES group at St. Elizabeth School in Oakland, we recently completed a unit focused on Healthy Boundaries. As part of this, we had a group discussion centered around healthy ways to...
Familias salvadas de quedarse sin hogar
"Dear Catholic Charities, I truly appreciate the rent support provided by Catholic Charities. My landlord received the check and informed me. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us. I’ll stay strong and will always remember the support from you and...
Agradecimiento a los voluntarios
El martes 29 de abril, los voluntarios de todos nuestros programas se reunieron en Oakland para celebrar un desayuno de agradecimiento. Todos disfrutaron de sándwiches de desayuno, fruta fresca y cartas personales de agradecimiento. Lindsey Lomas, responsable de RRHH, dio la bienvenida a los invitados y Mario...
Senior Needs Are Growing
Last year, we saw a big increase in the number of seniors who needed help with rent to stay in their homes. One woman, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was struggling to make ends meet on a fixed income. It was hard for her to cover housing, food, and increased...
7th Graders Make an Impact
Thank you to 7th graders from Oakland-Piedmont National Charity League who created and posted flyers (with QR codes) to gather books and raise money for children helped by Catholic Charities East Bay. It is wonderful to see the good things young people in our...
Esperanza y acción: Lo que hacemos
We've produced this video for you, giving a brief overview of the many ways we uplift families, children, and seniors facing challenges or a crisis. Since 1935, we've been providing services that meet some of the most pressing needs of our neighbors in Alameda and...
From Crisis to Community: Remembering our Katrina Response
This September marks 20 years since Catholic Charities East Bay opened its doors and hearts to survivors of Hurricane Katrina who found refuge in the East Bay. In the wake of unimaginable loss — homes, family members, churches, and entire communities — our agency led...